Saturday, 29 November 2014

The third version of N400GZ has departed Raleigh this afternoon, bound initially for Bermuda. This is the first time for this routing on a transatlantic crossing bound for the United Arab Emirates Joint Aviation Command. N400GZ had flown from Victoria, BC to Louisburg, NC on 10/11-Oct-2014 for pre-delivery work.

Friday, 28 November 2014

Filed a short while ago for departure from Deer Valley, AZ (which is in the northern part of Phoenix) to Chihuahua, Mexico is DHC-6 C-GVEP.

The problem is that C-GVEP is currently DHC-6-400 MSN 915, which shouldn't have left the factory in Calgary as yet, considering 914 is still there, and 913 just left there for painting on 21-Nov-2014. The previous use of C-GVEP was way back to MSN 881.

I'm suspecting this might actually be MSN 910, which departed Victoria on 26-Nov-2014 as FAP313, particularly as the Peruvians have used Deer Valley as an en route stop on earlier deliveries.

The latest Twin Otter for SVG Air is pictured below at the company facility in Saint Vincent. The aircraft remains in the colour scheme of Indonesian operator PT Air Borneo, which had originally expected the aircraft.

OB-2024 seen below at Huaraz, in north central Peru which sits at an elevation of 3,052 m. between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra, the former of which includes Peru's highest peak Huascarán with a height of 6,768 m.

Aircalin (Air Caledonie International) DHC-6-300 F-OIAQ is seen in a series of pictures below. It is one of two operating between the Islands of Wallis (Uvea) and Futuna which are located in the French Collectivity of the same name. The islands are located between Tuvalu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of DHC6 Captain (rotational). We are seeking a dynamic individual who is a self starter, works well with little supervision and works well in a team environment.

Opportunities for advancement are endless for the right individuals!

We are seeking applicants for:

DHC-6 Captain

2500 hours Total Time

500 hour on Floats

Ski experience an asset

Previous C-185, DHC-2, DHC-6 co-pilot experience is an asset, but not required.

Valid Multi-instrument rating

Salary: As per company pay scale commensurate with experience.Closing Date: December 12th, 2014

Below is 9M-MDK of MASwings, which was in the blog yesterday and the day prior, as it was officially imported to Canada on 24-Nov-2014, and registered as C-GKKN on 25-Nov-2014. The MASwings 300 series aircraft have been acquired by Unity Group of Airdrie, AB as they have been replaced by 400 series with MASwings.

Over the past couple of days there have been some very nice pictures contributed from the French South Pacific Islands, Australia, and Peru. I will be working on those, and will add some later today.

Last night I removed the DHC-6 Operator Directory temporarily. The reason being that the size of the directory was causing issues while I construct it (although it was displaying properly). In any case I have split it up geographically, and am close to finishing The Americas and will upload that portion shortly.

Following an accident that occurred at Anadyr on 05-Feb-2014 (see blog entry for 06-Feb-2014) RA-67282 has been undergoing repairs in a joint project between Viking Air and Zimex Aviation, on behalf of Chukotavia Air Company. The aircraft was test flown from Anadyr on 20-Nov-2014 and is expected to be returned to service shortly.

Kampala Aeroclub/FlyUganda Regains Ugandan Air Operators CertificateKampala Aeroclub became the first Ugandan operator to achieve re-certification following the mass withdrawal of operating authorities that occurred to all the country's carriers in mid-2014. Kampala Aeroclub operates DHC-6-400 5X-UPY.

MASwings to Re-Launch as LCC

As part of the ongoing restructuring of Malaysia Airlines, regional subsidiary MASwings will be re-launched in 2015 as a low cost carrier (LCC). Over time it is expected that the company will separate from Malaysia Airlines and be reincorporated independently. In addition to the current fleet of ATR-72's and DHC-6-400's, MASwings will also bring in Boeing 737-800 equipment as part of the transition.

Domestic and rural services operated by the ATR's and Twin Otters will continue to operate under subsidies from the Government of Malaysia

An update to the routing for C-FFNT which appeared yesterday, as the aircraft continued from St. George up to Calgary. Also a nice photograph of the aircraft via contribution this morning, taken before departure from Saint George.

With the STC certification of the Garmin G950 Integrated Flight Deck completed for the Twin Otter, C-GKPV should now be able to depart Calgary fairly soon. It has been noted flying over the past few days. Although the aircraft was painted in full PT Air Born (Indonesia) colours some time ago, it will instead be going to SVG Air in Saint Vincent shortly.

_________________________________________________________

Again via contribution this morning from a decidedly chilly looking Anadyr, Russia is Series 400 C-GVZQ (MSN 881) operating for locally based Chukotavia, in full Aurora colours.

Lastly, again via reader contribution (keep it going folks!) some nice scenic shots from Peru of a couple of Twin Otters; Series 300 OB-1704 (which just became 8Q-TAD with TMA) and Series 400 OB-2024.

The photos of OB-1701 below were taken at Pata de Gallo, Peru, which sits at an altitude of 13,720 feet and serves the Lagunas Norte Mine. The first & second photo clearly show the slope of the runway.

MSN 701 - DHC-6-300 OB-1704

Minera Barrick Misquichilca S.A.

Pata de Gallo, Peru 03-Dec-2008

José Añaños Photo

MSN 701 - DHC-6-300 OB-1704

Minera Barrick Misquichilca S.A.

Pata de Gallo, Peru 03-Dec-2008

José Añaños Photo

MSN 701 - DHC-6-300 OB-1704

Minera Barrick Misquichilca S.A.

Pata de Gallo, Peru 03-Dec-2008

José Añaños Photo

Below are a couple shots of the Series 400, initially still carrying the Canadian registration, and then the Peruvian.

It looks like C-FFNT left Ikhana yesterday, after having been present there since 27-Jul-2014 undergoing preparation for delivery to the Maldives. Today, at the time of writing the aircraft is southwest of Provo, UT. and will require at least one other en route stop before reaching destination in Calgary, AB.

I mentioned HB-LUC in the blog entry for 22-Oct-2014 when it was officially reinstated on the Swiss register, however it is now actually returning to Switzerland from Indonesia. The aircraft had been with PT Air Born since Oct-2012.

J8-GAA recently shed its orange, blue and white scheme in favor of overall white, similar to the rest of the SVG Air fleet.

Rounding out the trio of white airplanes, Hevilift's P2-KSW positioned down to Cairns, QLD on the 21-Nov-2014, and returned back to Port Moresby (via Horn Island) the following day. P2-KSW was acquired from AirlinesPNG about this time last year.

Friday, 21 November 2014

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C-FBHV is planned for departure back to Calgary this morning. It had flown down to Great Falls on 19-Nov-2014.

913 - DHC-6-400 C-FAFI Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

21-Nov-2014Planned

Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC) - Spokane, WA (KGEG/GEG)

Although the newer Air Inuit colour scheme has been around for quite some time, there haven't been many photographs of their Twin Otters in it. A nice shot from Brian Tattuinee in Iqaluit, who generally always has some interesting aircraft on his twitter feed.

Thursday, 20 November 2014

OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the addition of supplemental type certificate (STC) approval of the G950 Integrated Flight Deck (IFD) in the Metroliner and Twin Otter aircraft, expanding our G950 portfolio to six aircraft models. The G950 solves avionics obsolescence, meets regulatory requirements, improves dispatch reliability and expands the operational life and capabilities of these venerable aircraft.

“Garmin has teamed with highly capable industry partners who see value in offering a fully integrated avionics suite and desire to add more utility to these aircraft, so they can continue to serve the diverse needs of their customers.”

“The G950 upgrade programs provide next generation avionics capability with an impressive feature set at a fraction of the cost of traditional flight deck retrofits,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Garmin has teamed with highly capable industry partners who see value in offering a fully integrated avionics suite and desire to add more utility to these aircraft, so they can continue to serve the diverse needs of their customers.”

The G950 flight deck provides a simple path for aircraft owners to upgrade to an integrated avionics package, which assures the aircraft is equipped for the future. Navigation, communication, terrain, traffic and weather are integrated in the G950, making information easier to scan and interpret. The G950 offers a flexible design and adapts to a broad range of aircraft models, so the flight deck is customized for each aircraft. Configurations may comprise of two or three high-resolution primary and multi-function displays, which offer display sizes that range from 10 or 12-inch flat panel LCDs. A 15-inch multi-function display offers even further customization for qualifying airframes.

The G950 includes all of the features of Garmin’s renowned G1000® Integrated Flight Deck, while integrating to select autopilots already approved for the aircraft, further reducing cost and installation complexity. Enhanced situational awareness provided by Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT™) is optionally available on the G950, which presents a 3D depiction of virtual terrain, obstacles, traffic and the runway environment. SVT works seamlessly with Garmin’s Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) to provide visual and audible alerts to pilots by displaying terrain and obstacles that pose a threat. The G950 also delivers ADS-B Out compliance, equipping older generation aircraft with NextGen technology. Additional features of the G950 include solid-state digital radar, satellite datalink, WAAS/LPV approach capability, charts and more, providing owners and operators with safety enhancing technology previously not available on their aircraft.

Replacement of existing avionics with the G950 can provide an estimated weight savings of up to 250 pounds, allowing operators the ability to carry additional passengers or cargo with the same fuel load. In addition to increased utility, the G950 offers greater reliability and delivers tangible operational cost benefits. Operators not only receive safety enhancing situational awareness tools and NextGen capabilities with the G950 flight deck upgrade, but also notice a significantly higher aircraft resale value.

Axmax DHC-6-300 C-FBHV has departed to Great Falls, MT this morning. The aircraft has been present at Calgary since arriving from the R.C.M.P. back in Mar-2014. Whether the move down to the company's facility in Great Falls indicates they have sold it remains to be seen at this point.

C-FASQ has completed its ferry from the Northwest Territories to California. It arrived at the Ikhana Group facility at Murrieta-French Valley, CA last night where it will undergo the Ikhana DHC-6-200HG™ upgrade.

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

I actually saw this one track across the country from Springbank as LAL601 back on 08/09-Nov-2014, but wasn't able to determine which aircraft it actually was;

355 - DHC-6-300 C-FCSW North-Wright Airways, Norman Wells, NT

08-Nov-2014

Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Regina, SK (CYQR/YQR)

Regina, SK (CYQR/YQR) - Winnipeg, MB (CYWG/YWG)

Winnipeg, MB (CYWG/YWG) - Thunder Bay, ON (CYQT/YQT)

Thunder Bay, ON (CYQT/YQT) - Timmins, ON (CYTS/YTS)

09-Nov-2014

Timmins, ON (CYTS/YTS) - Roberval, QC (CYRJ/YRJ)

Roberval, QC (CYRJ/YRJ) - Sept-Iles, QC (CYZV/YZV)

Sept-Iles, QC (CYZV/YZV) - Goose Bay, NL (CYYR/YYR)

The aircraft currently remains registered as above (to North-Wright) however it had been operating for Summit Air in Yellowknife recently as well. Whether the transaction is between North-Wright and Air Labrador, or Ashe Aircraft Enterprises and Air Labrador remains to be seen.

C-GUVA landed a short while ago in Birmingham and has filed for the next, and final sector to Titusville, FL where it will enter the North American Surveillance Systems facility. The aircraft is eventually destined for the United Arab Emirates as 2274.

Monday, 17 November 2014

A couple on the move this afternoon, an early model 100 Series and a new 400. C-FASQ is southwest bound out of the Northwest Territories, while C-GUVA has left Billings, Montana (where it had diverted into last night) and is now bound for Wichita.

C-FASQ had earlier been cancelled from the CCAR on 04-Jul-2014 but re-instated on a temporary certificate on 08-Aug-2014, which was transferred to permanent on 04-Sep-2014.

SN 239 J8-GAA is seen below as it is being prepared for painting into the standard SVG Air c/s. The aircraft has until now been operated in the Carson Helicopters scheme it has carried since the mid-1980's. J8-GAA had arrived in Saint Vincent on 09-Dec-2012 on lease to SVG Air.

The aircraft has been present at Victoria since Jul-17-2014 as can be seen in the photograph below. It is expected the aircraft is either bound for Titusville, FL or Louisburg, NC, something we will be able to deduce as it makes its way eastward from Spokane.

Saturday, 15 November 2014

The DHC-6 Operator Directory (linked at the top left of your screen) has been further updated, and now includes significantly more information.

Today, the high level overview fleet listings for 80 operators were replaced by a full fleet list, including registrations, series, serial numbers and lessor/lessee information. Several new countries were also added, most notably the Maldives which includes no less than fifty Twin Otters.

I have added the basics for another dozen or so countries, and will start populating those sections next.

The second Twin Otter to depart from Seabird Airlines in 2014 is returning to Canada today (TC-SBA returned in Jan-2014, and is now in the Maldives). TC-SBO has been operating in Turkey since the summer of 2013. This should leave two aircraft remaining in Turkey for now, MSN 464/TC-SBC and MSN 321/TC-SBU.

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